coleman



2 Sheets-Sheet lv.

(No Model.)

J. P. COLEMAN.

SWITCH APPARATUS. l

Patented oet. 12, A1897'.

WITNESSES:

(N0 MOdBL) 2-Sheets-Sheet 2,2 l J. P. COLEMAN.

SWITCH APPRATUS.

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P 4 s L mw v2 m 2 a M me s. m n I 0 .7 w. 9 N .0 W o. w Ny P- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR-TO TIIE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH yAPPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 591,590, dated October- 12, 1897.

Application tied July s, 1897.

l. To all whom it 1li/ay concern.-

' 13e it known that I, JOHN PREssLEY GOLE- MAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or dis-- .covered certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Apparatus, of which improvements the following is a s ecification.

The-invention de cribed herein relates to certain improvements in.electrically-actuated mechanismfor operating switches and safety 4devices in connection therewith, and has for its object a' construction and arrangement of 'electric motor anda mechanism connecting the same to the switch-bar and circuit-re-r 'versing device whereby the switch-rails may scribed and claimed.

y yIn the accompanying drawings, forming a 'part of ,this specification, Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating' my invention,

the several parts being shown in the position which they would occupy immediately after the circuit' has been closed through the `mo' tor, but before the motor has operated to shift the switch; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts `after the motor has operatedto shift the switch and. the circuit-changing switch locked as against a complete reversal thereof.

in the practice 'of vmy invention the move ment of the locking-,bar and detector-bar and switch-rails is effected in orderly sequence by neansof am'echanism' fully described a'nd shown in Letters Patent No. 329,643, granted November' 3, 1885, to J'. T. Hambay, and consistin g of a bell-crank lever 1, provided with jaws 2. and 2, arranged at an. angle to each other, and 'with an arm 3, connected by la rod 4t to the switch-rails. .This lever is shifted '-'by means of a roller or projection 'o`n the "slide 5 striking against the'ams 2 or 2a. .-One

end of theslide 5 is connected by a rod 6 to the detector bar or rail, and on the slide are securedv blocks 7 and 7', adapted to engage 'notoh'osin the locking-bar, so astol prevent staunt. 643,353. (No model.)

Y any vmovement thereof or of the switch-rails to which it isfconnected until afterthe detector bar or rail hasy been moved to; operative' position'. This sliding bar 5 is connected -by a link or other suitable meansto a slide 8, rprovided with a series of teeth arranged to intermesh with a pinionil on the shaft 10, which is driven through suitable interposed gearing by the armature-shaft 11 of the motor. It will be readily understood that by the rotation`of the armature-shaft theslide 8 and the switch-operating devices connected thereto will be shifted back and forth in accordance with the direction of current through the field-magnets 12 12a of the motor. These field-magnets of the motor are excited by a battery B, one pole of Awhich is connectedto a circuit-changing switch 13. One circuit l from the battery B consists of lever 13, contact-plate 14, Wire 15, circuit-changing magnet 16, and wires 17 and 1S, back to the opposit-e pole of the battery B. Another circuit from the batteryconsists of lever 13, Contact' plate 1Ll, wires 15 and 19, movable contactl bar 20, contactpoint 21,' Wire 22, contactpoint`23, switchbar or plate 21,'secured to and insulated from the lever 25, Wire 26, electromagnet 27, and wire 28 to one of the brushes of the motor, while the opposite brush is connected by'a Wire 29 to a movable contactplate` 30, .contact-point at one end of the Wire 31, whose opposite end is connected to v'the pole a; oli the held-magnets of the motor, wire 32 toa contact-point 33, ,and plate 30, which 'is connected to the wire 18, leading to the opposite pole of the battery B.

When-.the switch-lever 13 is shifted to position'shownlin Fig. 1,`the circuit from the battery B will he first completed through the magnet 16., and by reason of the'movement of the switches 30 and 30?, due to the energizing of magnet 15, the circuit will be completed through the branch wire 19, contact plate and`point`2`0 and 2l, wire 22,.contact plate 4and point 23 and 24, wire 26, brake? magnet 27, wire 28, through the motorar1na` ture, wire y29, switch-plate 30, wire31, through the field-magnets of the motor from pole cc to i pole y, wire 32, contact-point 3.3, switch-plate 30, and wire 18 to theopposite pole of battery B.- It'will be observed that the movement ot rod the lever 1S to the position shownin Fig. 1 Iirst completes the circuit through magnet 16, thereby so shifting its armature that the arm 34 connected thereto will be moved to shift the switch-plate 30 against the contact-point 50. The movement of'V the armature of magnet 1G also so shifts, the lever 25 as to bring 'the contact-plate 24 against the point v23, and at the same time shifts said plate away from From the plate 24 the curcontact-point 23, rent passes th rough brake-magnet 27, thereby so shifting its armature as to pull the brake-shoe 35, connected to said armature, away from lthe brake-drum 36 on the shaft of the motor. From the brake-magnet?! the current passes by the wire 28 tothe motorbrushes, through the armature of the motor, and thence by the wire 2U and switch-plate 30, ythrough the field-magnets of the motor, and thence back to the battery through wirev 32, switch 30, and wire 18. excited the slide 8 is shifted, and through its connection with the sliding bar 5 the switch is unlocked and shifted to reverse position and locked. The movement of the sliding bar 5,.which is provided with an arm 5, adapted to strike against the switch-plates 20 and 20, will shift the plate 2O against contact-point of, thereby breaking the motorcircuit and completing a circuit consisting, starting from one pole of the battery B,-of lever 13, contact-plate 14, wires 15 and 19,

movable plat-e 20, contact-point 37, wire 38, 1

make-and-break mechanism a,.wire 39, magnet 40, and wire 41'to the opposite pole of the battery. The energizing of the inagnct will so shift the stop 42 as to permit of a complete movement o1' the lever 13 to reverse pbsition, as shown in Fig. 2. Byl reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that make-and-break mechanism o, and b are formed by springs 43 and 43b and metallic balls or knobs carried by, but insulated from, sliding plate 44. This' plate is. adapted to be shifted by the lever 13, but as the plate is not to be shifted until after the switch-railshave been moved lit is so connectcd as by a slot-and-pin device to the lever that the latter can be moved from normal or reverse position to a point a little past middle position or where it will make contact with the plates 14 or 14. iy a complete movement oi' thel lever 13 to the left the circuit through the magnet 40 is broken, so that when the lever 13 is shifted to the right the stop 42 will dropA and prevent any return movement of the lever until magnet 40 is again excited. The movement of the upper end of the lever out from under the stop 42 will permit the latter to drop into such position as will prevent the return of the lever 13 to full reverse position, but will allow a movement of the lever `13 from the normal position, as shown iu Fig. 2, to a point toward reverse position, where it will make Contact with the plate 19.

The contact of the lever 13 with the plate 14 will com plete a circuit from a battery con- The motor being sisting of the lever 13, plate 14, wire 15, magnet 16, and wires 1.7 and 18, back to the battery, and' also another circuit branching from the wire 15, and consisting of the wire 19A, switch-plate 20, point 21, wire 22, .tact-point 23, switch-plate 24, wire 26, magnet y27, wire 28, the brushes an'd armature of the motor, wire 29, switch-plate 30, contactpoint wire 31", to poley of the field-magnets 12 ,thence`from the polea; to contact-point .38", switch-plate 30, which had previously been shifted by theenergization of.v the magnet 16, andthe'nce yby wire 18 to battery. It will be observed that in this instance the eurrent passes in a reverse direction through the Ifield-magnets of the motor, and that therefore a reverse rotation of the armature of the motor and a. corresponding movement of the switch-rails will be eiected. f By this reversal of the switchthearm or projection 5 on the slide 5 of the switch mechanism will shift the plate 20 against contact-point 37', thereby breaking the motor-circuit and coinpletin g the circuitconsistin g of lever. 13, contact-plate 14, wires 'lr'and 19, plate 20, contact-point 37, wire 38, make-and-brealr mechanism b, wire '39, magnet 40, and wire 41 to battery. The excitation or energization of magnemit*y will so lift the stop 42 as to permit a'complete reversal of the lever 13 and the shifting ofthe'plate 44, so as to complete the make-and-break mechanism a preparatory for the next movement of the switch.

It will, be .observed that the circuits for exciting themotor pass through the make-andbreak mechanism, consisting. of the movable plates and points 20, 21, and.20 and 21, and hence that the movements of the sliding bar 5 will, through the inedium of the projection or arm 5 thereon, shift the plates 20 or 20 as the bar reaches the limits of its 'movement, so as to break the circuit through the motor; and-twill also be observed that the movementof plate 20 or 20 to break themotor-'circuit will complete the circuit through the indication-magnets 40 or 40, thereby unlocking the 1ever'13, so that a complete movement thereof can be effected as is necessary for a completion of the indication-circuit for the next movement of the switch.

It may sometimes happen that the switchrails cannot be shifted by'reason of snow or ice or other impediment and in such case it is desirable'to break the circuit through the motor-in order to avoid anyinjury thereto or to the parts connecting it with the switch. To this end the rack-bar 44 lis formed independent of the slide 8 and adapted to move IOO back and forth therein in suitable guideways. l

motor, as the plate 20a was shifted by itsl magnet 27. Thestem of this armature passesA when the bar 44 is moved independently of the slide toopen make-and-break mechanisms 47 or 47 f, said mechanisms consisting of springs attached in any suitable manner to a block of insulating material, which is secured to the slide 8 so as to move therewith.-

These contact-springs are so constructed and arranged as to be normally in contact with each other' and form.- a portion of circuits formed by the wire 22 or 22a. These circuitbreakers are so attached to the slide S'that when thebar v44 moves independent of the slide its projection 46 will shift one of the springs away from the other and thereby break the circuit to the motor. V'Ihe switchplates 2O and 20a are normally held against the contact-points 21 and 21a, respectively, by springs .51 and 51, so that as soon as the arm 5a is moved away from said plates they Will vbe shifted against the points21 and 21, there-4 by closing at that point the motor-circuit. This is an important characteristic of myimprovement, as in Acase of the blocking of the switch-rails after a partial movement the operator can by a reversal of the lever 13'rel verse the motor and restore the switch to its original position. could not, with the several parts in the posi- 'tion shown in Fig. 1, entirely shift the switchrails the operator would move the lever 13 against the plate 14, thereby reversing-the spring against contact-point 21. If the operator should again move his lever 13 against plate 14, the motor would be reversed, and by repeating th ese operations the-switch-rails might be freed either by dislodging the obstruction or crushing it. y

n The brake mechanism consists of fa block 35, arranged to move between suitable guides 48 and pivotally attached to the armature of up through the magnet, and is provided near its upper end with a 'shoulderforming one bearing for the spring 49., the opposite end of which will bear against a suitable abutment formed on the.. frame carrying the-several magnets.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In an apparatus for shifting a part or appliance connected to a track for controlling vthe movement of trains, the combination ofy a motor, a generator having each of its poles.

- connected to both poles of the motor, a circuit-chan ger controlling the connection of the generator to the motor, a magnet controlling the circuit-chan ger, and connections from the motor to the part or appliance to be shifted, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for shifting a part or appliance connected to a track, the combination of a motor, a generator having each of its poles connected to both poles of the motor, a circuit-changer controlling the connec- For example, if the motorv tionof the'generator4 to the motor,.a magnet 65 included in the motor-circuit and connections from the motor to the part or appliance to be shifted, substantially as set forth.

3. In -an apparatus for shifting a part or appliance connected to a track, a'motor connected to such part or appliance, a generator having each of itspoles connected to both poles of the motor, 'a circuit-changer con-l trolling t-he connection fromthe generator to the motor, a magnet controlling the circuitchanger, and a make-and-break mechanism included in the motor-circuitl and operated by the part or appliance to be shifted, substantiallyas set forth.

4. In'an apparatuslfor shifting a part or appliance connected to a track, a motor connected to such part or appliance, a generator having'each of its p'oles connected to both poles of the motor, a circuit-changer Vcontrolling the. connection from the battery to .the motor, a mag-net controlling the circuit- A changer, a make-and-break vmechanism ineluded-,in the motor, circuit-stops controlling the make-and-break mechanism, magnets controlling said stops, and make-and-break mechanisms in Ithe circuits of said magnets shifted, substantially as set forth.

5. 'In an apparatus for shifting a partor appliance'connectedto a track, an electric motor, ar resilient connection between the motor and thepart or appliance to be shifted, a make-and-break mechanism in the circuit of the motor and operated by a part of the resilient connection, substantially as setA forth.

6.' In an apparatus for shifting apart or appliance connected to a track, the combination of a slide connected to the part or appliance'to be shifted, a rack-bar resilientlyconnected to the slide', a motor having a gearing Vconnection to the rack-bar, a make-andbreak mechanism in the motor-.circuit'controlled by the rack-bar, vsubstantially as set'- forth. 5 7. In an apparatus for shifting a part Vor appliance connectedto a track, a motor conv nected to sch part oi' appliance, a generator having each of its poles connected to both poles of the generator, a circuit-changer controlling the connection from the generator to the motor, a magnet controlling the circuitchanger and normally-closed make-and-break mechanisms included in the motor-circuits and adapted tobe opened by the part or appliance to be shifted,substantially as set forth-.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntotset my hand. t

A.T01-1N PREssLEY COLEMAN;-

Witnesses:

DArWIN S. WoLoerr, F.. E. GAITHER.'

.controlled by the part or lappliance to be. 

